By: Menéndez	S.B. No. 2941

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to special needs training for judges.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 22.110, Government Code, is amended by adding
	Subsection (b) to read as follows:
	(b)  The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules
	necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The rules
	must require:
	(1)  each district judge, judge of a statutory county court,
	associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this code or Chapter
	201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate within the
	judge's first term of office or the judicial officer's first four
	years of service to complete and provide certification of
	completion of 12 hours of training that include at least:
	(A)  four hours dedicated to issues related to
	trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect that cover
	at least two of the topics described in Subsections
	(d)(8)-(12)(14);
	(B)  six hours dedicated to the training described by
	Subsections (d)(5), (6), and (7); and
	(C)  one hour dedicated to the training described by
	Subsection (d)(13);
	(2)  each judge and judicial officer during each additional
	term in office or four years of service to complete and provide
	certification of completion of an additional five hours of training
	that include at least:
	(A)  two hours dedicated to the training described by
	Subsections (d)(11) and (12); and
	(B)  one hour dedicated to the training described by
	Subsection (d)(13); and
	(3)  each judge of a court with primary responsibility for
	family law or family violence matters to complete and provide
	certification of completion of an additional hour of training
	described by Subsection (d)(13) every two years.
	(c)  In adopting the rules, the court of criminal appeals may
	consult with the supreme court and with professional groups and
	associations in the state that have expertise in the subject matter
	to obtain the recommendations of those groups or associations for
	instruction content.
	(d)  The instruction must include information about:
	(1)  statutory and case law relating to videotaping a child's
	testimony and relating to competency of children to testify;
	(2)  methods for eliminating the trauma to the child caused
	by the court process;
	(3)  case law, statutory law, and procedural rules relating
	to family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and
	child abuse and neglect;
	(4)  methods for providing protection for victims of family
	violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and child abuse
	and neglect;
	(5)  available community and state resources for counseling
	and other aid to victims and to offenders;
	(6)  gender bias in the judicial process;
	(7)  dynamics and effects of being a victim of sexual
	assault, trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect;
	(8)  dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including child
	abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming;
	(9)  impact of substance abuse on an unborn child and on a
	person's ability to care for a child;
	(10)  issues of attachment and bonding between children and
	caregivers;
	(11)  issues of child development that pertain to
	trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect; and
	(12)  medical findings regarding physical abuse, sexual
	abuse, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect;
	(13)  dynamics of family violence.; and
	(14)  specíal needs.
	SECTION 2.(a) As soon as practicable after the effective date
	of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules necessary
	to implement Section 22.110, Government Code, as added by this Act.
	(b)  The changes in law made by Section 22.110, Government
	Code, as added by this Act, apply to all judges elected, appointed,
	or holding office on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.